Latch for gates and the like



Nov. 16 1926.

' J. w. SMITH LATCH FOR GATES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1923- a mum H201 Tick 57 4197 attoznug 4 4 mlulll ulllll llll Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN w. SMITH, or DAYTON, 01:10.

LATCH non GATES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 15,1923. Serial No. 668,512.

This invention relates to latches for gates and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a strong durable latch which will be simple in its construction and which will not be easily broken or injured so as to render it 'vide such a latch which will prevent the adjacent edge of the gate from V A further object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism comprising latching members spaced apart and con trolled by the same operating member, so as to prevent the gate from being sprung, or the lower corner thereof forced open without releasing the latch.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a latch mechanism embodying my invention, with the connecting bar partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the invention, connected with the gate and gate post, whichare partly broken away; Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view of the main latch taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 -6 Of Fig- 1; i

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied toa swinging gate and as comprising a plurality of latching devices, It will be understood, however, that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the latch may consist of one or more latching devices and may be applied to gates or other closures of various kinds and, further, that the mechanism may take various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that part1cular embodiment of the invention here shown the main latching mechanism comprises an abutment 1 which is supported by the gate post 2 and which, in the present instance, is rigidlysecured to and preferably formed integral with a supporting member or plate ;3 which is rigidly attached to the post by suitable fastening devices, such as bolts 4 extending through apertured lugs 5 carried by the supporting plate. This abutment 1 is adapted to engage the lower edge of a projection or lug 6 which is carried by the adjacent edge of the gate or closure 7, and to thereby support the adjacent edge of the gate and prevent the same from sagging. The projection or lug 6 may take various forms but, as here shown, it is in the form of a vertical. web rigidly secured to, and

preferably formed integral with, a base plateb which is'rigidly attached to the edge of the gate by suitable attaching devices, such as screws reinforced by horizontal bracing members or gussets 9 formed integral therewith so as to provide a very strong lug which will will not be liable to damage even though roughly used. In order that this lug or projection 6- may be guided into proper contactwith the abutment 1, in the event it is not supported in alinement therewith, the abutment is provided with laterally projecting inclined portions 10 which provide beveled surfaces with which the lug may contact as the. gate is moved toward its closed position and which will tend to move the lug and the adjacent portion of the gate upwardly to-a proper position with relation to the abutment 1, thereby not only holding the gate against sagging but also properly, positioning the lug for engagement by the latchingmember.

The latching member may take various forms but it is preferably mounted above the position occupied by the lug 6 when the gate is closed and is movable vertically into and out of locking. engagement with that lug. In the present construction the latching member or keeper, which is shown at 11. is arranged in front of the supporting structure 3 and is slidably mounted for vertical movement thereon. To' this end the latchin; member is carried by a plate 12 which is slidably mounted in suitable hearings on the supporting structure 3. The latching member 11 may be secured to this slidable plate in any suitable manner but is preterably formed integral therewith. The slidable member is mounted in a lower bearing 13 which is secured to the Supporting structure 8. The web may be iii by suitable fastening devices, such as screws and an upper bearing which is formed integral with the supporting structure and is here shown in the form of a flange depending from a transverse portion or cap 16 at the upper end of the structure 3. The slidable plate 12 which carries the latching member 11 has its upper portion curved outwardly so that it substantially semi-circular in cross section, as shown at 17, and this portion of the plate constitutes a housing the edges of which are mounted in guideways 18 in the supporting structure 3 and the turved surface of which fits snugly in the bearings 13 and 15. Ordinarily it is not desirable to make the latching member of sufficient weight to cause it to act quickly by gravity and I prefer to provide a yieldabie member which. will act upon the latching member to move the same downwardly and hold the same in latching contact with the lug 6. In the present construction this yieldable member is in the form of a coiled spring 19 n'iounted Within the housing 17 l confined between. a lug 20 upon the bots om wall of said housing and a part carried iy the supporting structure 3. In order that the tension of the spring may be adjustable I have here shown the upper end of the same as contacting with a head 21 carried by the lower end of a rod 22 which is screw threaded into a boss 2% carried by the cap 16. A lock nut 24 provided to retain the rod in its adjusted positions. In order that the latching member 11 may be forced upwardly by the lug 6 to permit the latter to move into proper position beneath the same I have provided the latching member with laterally extending portions 25 the lower edges of which are inclined to provide beveled contact surfaces for the lug. The latching member'll here shown as provided at its lower edge with a recess or notch 26 adapted to rethe upper edge of the lug 6. As the e is moved to its closed position the lower ed e of the lug 6 will engage the beveled end of the abutment and as ;s movement continues the upper edge will engage the beveled projection of the adjacent side of the latching member. therel'w forcing that member upwari'lly against the action of the spring 19 and causing the lug to be moved onto the aliaitment 1 and into line with the recess 2-15 in the latching member. As soon as the llhl is in line with the recess the spring will force the latching member down- \Ylll't and cause it to embrace the lug, thereby holding the same firmly against displacement. The lower bearing 13 is provided with two downwardly extending lugs 27 which are preferablyformed integral with the bearing and which extend in the rear of the lateral projections 25 of the latching member and engage the respective sides of that member in the rear of said projections.

In this manner the lugs 27 serve to brace the slidable latch against lateral displace ment and also to reinforce the lateral projections 25 so as to prevent the same from being injured by a rearward pressure or blow. 'lhe lugs 27 and lateral projections 25 may also be utilized for locking the latching member in its closed position and as here shown. these parts are provided with aperlures 28 and 21-) which will register one with the other when the latching member in its lo iverinost or operative positiom thereby permitting the insertion of a suitable look-- ing; member, such as a hasp of a padlock 3%). It. will be noted that there is a lug 27 and a projection on each. side of the latch so that the latter may be locked from either side of the gate. Suitable means are provided for moving the latching member upwardly against the tension of the spring to release the gate. This member may talte various forms but, as here shown, comprises a lever 31 pivotally mounted between lugs carried by the supporting structure 3 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The inner end of this lever is rounded. as shown at $53 and arranged to engage the lower surface of the lug 20 so that the movement of the lever about its axis will impart upward movement to that lug and consequently to the latching member with whieh'the lug is connected. The outer portion of the lever extends through an opening 34 in the fence post and projects beyond the post far enough to provide for the convenient manipulation thereof.

A latch of this kind is usually arranged at a convenient height for manipulation and this requires that it be placed some distance above the lower edge of the gate. As a result it is sometimes possible, even when the gate is latched, to. force the lower edge of the same inwardly past the fence post, thereby permitting the passage of small animals, such as pigs. In order to prevent twisting 0r swinging of the gate into a partially open position Iprefer to provide two latching devices which will be spaced some distance apart so that when both are in operative positions the gate will be held against all twisting movement and cannot be sprung out of line with the fence post. To this end I have shown in the present drawingsa second latch mounted on the post 2 some distance below the above described latch and preferably at a point spaced a comparatively short distance above the lower edge of the gate. As here shown, this second latch comprises a supporting member or plate 35 adapted to be rigidly secured by means of bolts'36 or otherwise, to the post 2. This plate is provided with a forwardly extending projection 37 the lateral portions of which are bent upwardly, as shown at 38, to provide plate 35 and to this tion to the supporting beveled contact surfaces. This projection 37 has an opening 39 formed therein and in this opening is mounted the latch member d0, this latch member being providedwith a recess 41 to receive the upper edge of a lug 42, which may be similar to the lugv be attached to the gate 7 in the The lateral portions of the ll) are rounded or beveled, as shown at to enable the latch to be moved upwardly by contact with the lug 42, thereby permitting the lug to be moved into line with the recess ll. The latching member is slidably mounted on the supporting end it is rigidly secured to and formed integral with a vertically arranged guide bar ll which is slidably mounted in a guideway 45 IOIIHGCllIl the plate 35. A hearing 46 embraces the upper portion of the guide member or bar 44 and cooperates with the projection 37 to retain the latch in its proper position with relamember. The latching member 40 is yieldably held in its lowermost position but, in the present instance, I have not provided this lower latch with separate means either for yieldably-holding the same in its lower position or for moving the same into its inoperative position against the action of, such yieldable means, but have so connected the lower latching member with the upperlatching member that the lower latching member will be 6 and may same manner. latching member acted upon by the spring 19 and by the lever 31, thereby en abling the two latching members to be moved simultaneously into and out of their operative positions. In the (present construction I have connected the guide mem her or plate la of the lower latching member with the slidable plate 12 of the upper latch ing member by means of a bar 27. The length of this bar may be varied so as to permit the two latching devices to be spaced apart any desired distance without inter "fering with=the manipulation of the lower latching device by means of the operating lever for the upper latching device. As a rule it is. not necessary. to provide the lower latching member with a supporting abut-. ment for the lug 42 as the gate will be adequately supported by the upper abutment, but obviously such an abutment could operating device or be provided in connection with the lower latching device, if desired.

Theoperation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that I have provided a latch for gates, or other movable closures, whichis of a very strong durable character, 'will'act quickly; and positively to secure the gate when it has been moved to its closed position; which will support the edge of the gate againstlany tendency to sagyand which cannot be: released by an upward'thrust on the gate but will serve to limit that upward thrust to such an extent that 'it will be immaterial, the upward thrust of the gate being limited in the present instance to the amount of vertical move ment of which the latching member is capable. llurther, the gate is normally locked against movement in either direction. but may be swung open in either direction by releasing the latch. It will also be apparent thatI have provided latching mechanism by means of which the gate may be secured at two separate points, thereby preventing the same from being twisted or sprung into a partially open position and that this latching mechanism is operable by a single actuating device so that the gate may be simul taneously released at both points. lVhen the lower latching mechanism is employed the projection 37, Whichlies in the path of the lug 42, wardmovement of the lug of the gate.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my inventioml wish it to he 7 understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may appear to a person skilled in the art i Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire: to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1 A latch for a gate or the like comprising a supporting plate having an abutment near the lower end thereof to engage and support a projection carried by the gate and having a bearing near the upper end thereof, a plate slida-bly mounted in said bearing and having a hollow portion forming ahousing, a latching member carried by said slidable plate, having a recess in the lower edge thereof to receive the projection on said gate and having its lateral portions inclined to formcontact surfaces, aspring arranged in said housing and acting on said slldab-le plate to'move said latching member downwardly, and an actuating device for moving said slidable plate and said latching member against the tension of said spring.

2. A latch for a gate or the like, comprising a supporting structure having an outwardly extending projection provided with a downwardly extending flange to form a bearing and also having a second bearing arranged below the first mentioned bearing, a plate having a hollow portion slidably mounted in said bearings and having a part forming a bottom wall therefor, a screw threaded rod mounted in said projection, a

head carried by said rod, a spring confined between said head and said bottom wall, a latching member carried by said plate, and means for moving said plate against .the tension of said spring to move said latching member to an inoperative position.

3; A latch for a gate or the like comprising a supporting structure having a* -l. A latch for a gate or the like compris ing a supporting structure, a plate slidably mounted on said structure and having a part forming a housing, a lug forming the bottom wall for said housing, a latching member carried by said plate,a spring arranged within said housing and confined between said lug and a part carried by said supporting structure, and a lever mounted adjacent to said housing and having a part adapted to engage said lug to impart movement to said latching member against the tension of sad spring.

5. 'A latch for a gate or the like comprising a supporting structure, a plate slidably mounted on said supporting structure and having a part forming a housing, said housing having a bottom wall, the lower surface of which forms a shoulder, a latching member carried by said plate, a bearing carried by said supporting structure and extending about said housing, a part carried by the up per end of said supporting structure and having a depending flange to form a second bearing for said housing, a rod screw threaded into said supporting structure, a head carried by said rod, a coiled spring confined between said head and the bottom of said housing, and a lever having one end arranged to engage the shoulder formed beneath the bottom of said housing.

6. A latch for a gate or the like, comprising a supporting structure, a latching member slidably mounted on said supporting structure and having laterally extending portions provided with inclined lower edges, lugs rigidly secured to said supporting structure and arranged to respectively engage the rear surfaces of said lateral projections on the opposite sides of said latching member.

7. A latch for a gate .or the like, comprising a supporting structure, a latching member slidably mounted on said supporting structure and having laterally extending portions provided with inclined lower edges, lugs rigidly secured to said support ing structure and arranged to respectively engage the opposite sides of said latching member in the rear of said projections to brace said member against lateral movement.

8. A latch for a gate or the like, comprising a supporting structure, a latching member slidably'mounted on said supporting structure and having laterally extending portions provided with inclined lower edges, lugs rigidly secured to said supporting structure and arranged to respectively en gage the opposite sides of said latching member in the rear of said projections tov brace said member against lateral movement, and to engage the rear faces of said lateral projections to reinforce the same.

3). A latch for agate or the like, comprising a supporting structure, a latching member slidably mounted on said supporting structure and having laterally extending portions provided with inclined lower edges, lugs rigidly secured to said supporting structure and arranged on the opposite sides of the rear portion of said latching member adjacent to said lateral projections, and means for locking the corresponding lugs and projections one to the other.

10. A latch for a gate or the like, comprising a supporting structure, a latching member slidably mounted on said supporting structure and having laterally extending portions provided with inclined lower edges, bracing lugs rigidly secured to said supporting structure and arranged on the op posite sides of the rear portion of said latching member adjacent to said lateral projections, said lugs and said projections on the respective sides of said latching member having openings adapted to register one with the other when said latching member is in its operative position and adapted to receive a locking device.

11. A latch for a gate or the like comprising a supporting structure, a plate slidably mounted on said structure, a latching member carried by said plate and having later ally extending projections, a bearing for said plate carried by said supporting structure and having lugs depending therefrom in the rear of said lateral projections and arranged on opposite sides of thejrear portion of said latching member.

12. A latch for a gate or the like comprising a supporting structure, an abutment carried by, said supporting structure, a plate slidably mounted on said supporting structure above said abutment, bearings for said plate, a latching member carried by said plate and having a recess in its lower edge arranged above said abutment, a spring tending to move said plate and said latching member toward said abutment, and means for moving said latching member away from said abutment against the tension of said spring.

13. In a latching mechanism for a gate or the like, a latching device comprising a latching member adapted to engage a projection carried by a gate, a second latching device spaced from the first mentioneddatchfit ing device and comprising a latching mem ber adapted to engage a second projection carried by said gate, means for rigidly connecting said latching members one to the other to cause them to move simultaneously in the same direction, and a device acting on one of said latching members to actuate both of them. g

14. In a latching mechanism for a gate or the like, a latching device comprising a latching member adapted to engage a pro jection carried by a gate, yieldable means for holding said latching member normally in its operative position, a device for moving said latching member into its inoperative position, 'a second latching device spaced some distance from the first mentioned latching device and comprising a latching member adapted to engage a second projection carried by said gate, and means for connecting said second latching member with the st mentioned latching member to cause said second latching member to be moved by and in the same direction as the first mentioned latching member.

15. A latching mechanism for a, gate or the like comprising a supporting structure, an abutment carried by said supporting structure to engagethe lower edge of a projection carried by a gate, a latching member mounted on said supporting structure for vertical movement and having a recess to eng go the upper edge of said projection, a spring acting on said latching member to hold the same normally in its operative position, an actuating device to move said-latching member against the spring, a second supporting structure arranged below and spaced from the first mentioned supporting structure, a latching member siidably mounted on said second supporting structure and having a recess to the upper cage ot a second projection car ied by said gate, and a bar for rigidly connecting said latching members one to the other. 7 7

is. A latching mechanism for a gate or the like comprising a supporting structure, an. abutment carried by said supporting structure to engage the lower edge of a projection carried by a gate, a latching member mounted on said supporting structure for vertical movement and having a recess to engage the upper edge of said projection, a spring acting on said latching member to hold the same normally in its operative position, an actuating device to move said latching member against the tension of said spring, a second supporting structure mounted below and spaced from the first mentioned supporting structure and having a vertical guideway, a guide member mounted tension 0t said i in said guideway, a latching member carried by said guide member and adapted to engage a second projection carried by said gate, and a bar connecting said guide member with the first mentioned latching member.

17. A latching mechanism for a gate or the like comprising a supporting plate pro vided with a transverse projection extending forwardly therefrom and having its lateral portions inclined to "form contact surfaces, said pro ection having an opening adjacent to said supporting plate, a latching member slidably mounted on said supporting plate, arranged within the opening of said projection and having a recess to receive the projection carried by said plate, yieldable means. for moving said latching member toward theprojection on said gate, and other means for moving the same from said projection.

l8. A latching mechanism for a gate or the like, comprising a supporting structure provided with a forwardly extending projecti-on having an opening adjacent to said supporting structure, said structure also having a longitudinal guideway communicating with said opening, a latching member arranged within the opening-oi said projection and having a part slidably mounted in said guideway, said latching member having a recess to receive a projection carried by the gate, yieldable means for moving said latching member toward said projection, and other means for moving the same fromsaid projection.

19. A latching mechanism for a gate or the like,comprising a supporting structure, an abutment carried by said structure and arranged to engage and support a projection carried by the gate, a latching member mounted on said supporting structure for movement toward and from said abutment and having a part to engage sail projection and hold said gate against movement, a second. supporting structure provided with a forwardly extending projection having an opening adjacent to structure and provided with a-longitudinal guideway adj ac-ent to said opening, a second latching member arranged Within the openmg in said projection and having a part slidably mounted in said guideway and also having a part to engage a second projection'on said gate, yieldable means for moving said latching'members toward the respective projections on said gate, and other means for moving the same ,lfrom said projections.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

JOHN W. SMITH. 

